Alexandria National Museum

• 16 / 5 / 2023

Alexandria National Museum 

The National Museum of Alexandria was inaugurated on 31 December 2003 by Hosni Mubarak; it was designed in Italian style and located on Horeya Street. It was the house of Asa'ad Basily, which used to be home to the United States consulate in Egypt. The Alexandria National Museum includes around 1,800 artifacts that narrate the stories about the city of Alexandria and also about Egypt. The museum itself consists of three floors; the first floor includes pieces from the Pharaonic times, and the second floor includes artifacts from the Hellenistic period and the Roman period, such as several canopic jars and pieces from the rule of Nectanebo II, pieces of Caracalla, representations of Medusa, a mosaic portrait, and representations of Queen Berenice II, wife of Ptolemy III. The 3rd floor includes ancient Egyptian pieces, Coptic, and Muslim pieces, as well as the 19th and 20th centuries. The museum also has a collection of jewelry and weapons.

You can find the Alexandria National Museum's official website here.

Alexandria things to do

Alexandria National Museum is among the must-see sites that are not to be ignored if you want to learn more about the culture and history of this ancient city, which dates back to the 4th century B.C. Visiting the museum is part of your Egypt travel package, or take a day trip to Alexandria from Cairo to see the collection that guides you from the ancient Egyptian epoch in the basement to the Hellenistic early times when Alexandria and Egypt were ruled by the Ptolemaic dynasty started by the famous commander Alexander the Great, and up to the Byzantine and Islamic ages. In addition to the artifacts, statues, and antiques discovered in Alexandria City (including discoveries from underwater excavations in the area), we will find unique imaginary drawings of what ancient Alexandria would have seemed like. That eases visitors to recognize how the city has come to a change. Dear tourists, Egypt is a land that has shaped the world through its history.

Located in the heart of Alexandria, the National Museum is a repository of Egypt’s vast cultural wealth and gives an interesting journey in the history of the country from Pharaonism to the present time. It is located in a beautifully restored building of equestrian Italian architecture of the early XX century, which makes this museum an ideal place for everyone who would like to learn more about the history and culture of Alexandria. Suffice it to say that there is no more important reason for any traveler to her axis than a visit to the Alexandria National Museum.

Location and Architectural Charm

Situated in the very center of the city, a few steps away from the lively Corniche, the Alexandria National Museum is an architectural wonder. Constructed in 1928, this remarkable house used to serve as the residence of a rich timber trader before turning into the U.S. consulate in the middle of the 20th century. Today, its impressive construction style, which is a mixture of Italian and classical architecture, provides a fitting setting for the shows that it presents. The elegantly designed and overgrown with beautiful plants shallow depth of the building's decorated front wall create a friendly feeling of sophistication and exploration.

An Immersive Journey Through Time

The museum is distributed in three sections that extend from the ground floor to the first floor, each section providing for a different period in the history of Egypt. The three floors contain more than 1,800 artifacts, which enable one to navigate a wide range of Egyptian history from Egyptian kingdoms through Greco-Roman and Coptic, after that Islamic, and further.

The first exhibits
On the lower level, one will be able to embrace the greatness of ancient Egypt. Statues, carvings, ornaments, and other items of daily existence from the Pharaohs’ age give a glimpse of the past with its beliefs, arts, and industries of early Egypt. Fan statues, death boxes, and stunning artifacts from some famous rulers’ periods are among the most prominent examples.

The Greco-Roman Collection
On the way to the first floor, on the second level where visitors stand, came the artifacts illustrating the history of the period when the city of Alexandria was a learning as well as a commercial hub, known as the Greco-Roman period. This particular assemblage contains statuettes and other items, such as vases and coins, which are typical of the Graeco-Roman style found in Egypt. One of the most outstanding exhibits is the footage depicting the ancient Roman triclinium, a type of dining room revealing the high social status of people in Alexandria during the Greco-Roman period.

The Coptic and Islamic Collection
The second floor accommodates the elements that can be dated back to the Coptic and Islamic periods in Egypt. These include painted masterpieces of religious texts, carved wooden items, and other textiles that were produced during these times. The Islamic materials comprise pottery, money, and artistic glassworks showcasing the remarkable heritage that continued to be embedded in Alexandria after many years.

Underwater antiquities and interactive exhibits

Perhaps the most striking of the museum’s sections is the exhibit showcasing underwater specimens that have been brought up from Alexandria’s port. Guests are treated to those relics that were thought to have been entirely claimed by the ocean, such as the very statues and sphinxes plunging underneath the water and objects that once belonged to Cleopatra’s house that had been resting for ages in the Mediterranean Sea. Such an exhibit presents a great and unique outlook on the ancient splendor of Alexandria and the enigma that its history is submerged in water.

Educational and Family-Friendly

The Alexandria National Museum is very well planned to ensure that history is for all ages. In addition to audio guides, interactive displays, and ornamented signs for every object of interest enable the visitor to go on exploring at his or her convenience. The museum also organizes temporary exhibitions, audiences with lectures, and cultural events, making it a handy education and social outreach unit.

Why Visit?

The Alexandria National Museum is not only a collection of exhibits but also a rich narrative of the resilience and transformation of Egypt. For all history and art enthusiasts or anyone who wishes to better understand Egypt in its ancient times, the museum is going to offer nothing but the best. The museum explains the evolution of Alexandria from the great ancient city to the modern metropolis, allowing the visitors to appreciate the various historical and cultural factors that shaped Alexandria and Egypt.

Opening Hours and Tips for Visitors

The Alexandria National Museum is operational every day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with limited operations on Fridays. To enjoy the exhibits comfortably, it is advisable to set aside a minimum of two hours and carry a camera to take shots of the detailed architectural designs and artifacts well displayed. Also, due to the presence of the Corniche and other attractions, it is very convenient to include the visit to the Alexandria National Museum in the day’s excursion of this beautiful city.

Simply put, the Alexandria National Museum is, within its structure, a complete history of Egypt imprinted in time, attended with a rich experience decoration that one can expect.